SW Road Test by Scott MacGregor & Dwayne Jessup Battle of the Bush Road Challenge


Maybe, we thought at the Rapid automotive journalist desk, we paddlers have it all wrong. Instead of our SUVs and sport wagons, maybe the ultimate shuttle vehicle is a logging truck. To find out, we squared our new 2005 Chevy Equinox (part SUV, part wagon) against Dwayne Jessup’s 1999 Western Star: here’s how they stacked up.


2005 Chevy Equinox


In the shuttle vehicle corner wearing “laser blue” trunks is the classy 2005 Equinox, Chevy’s latest light SUV. It positions itself in the same class as the Toyota Rav4 and Ford Escape. A longer wheelbase, wide stance and clean lines make it look larger and more upscale than its competition. The interior space is more like a van than a light SUV. The rear seats slide, offering you the option of either passenger legroom or more cargo storage. The dash layout and controls are soft rubber and tight, with a posh import feel.


Underfoot the Equinox does well off the light (zero-to-60 mph in less than 8.5 seconds) and highway cruising, no matter how many boats you stack on top. Dwayne noted that the 3.4L V-6 in the Equinox is the same engine that’s in his Trans Am, but slightly detuned to a decent 185 horsepower. The handling is sporty urban, and the suspension is definitely more at home swerving around grocery carts than chattering over washboards. That said, we had plenty of clearance for crawling over rocks and roots. The all-wheel drive is seamless, engaging the rear wheels only when the primary front wheels slip. Overall impression? Car handling without SUV sway; plenty of umph; mini-van storage capacity, no frumpy stigma; will get you to the put-in and the bistro.


Equinox Specs Engine: 3400 3.4L V-6 185 horsepower 5-speed auto Drive: front-wheel or all-wheel drive (tested) Wheelbase: 2857 mm/112.5 inches Gross Vehicle Weight: 2300 kg/5070 lbs Max Towing: 1588 kg/5070 lbs Fuel Capacity: 62.8 L/13.8 imp. gal. Fuel Economy: city 12.7 L/100 km, 22 mi/gal; highway 8.6 L/100 km, 33 mi/gal Base price: $31,275 (as shown $34,505) Paddler perks: AWD; integrated factory roof rack, sleek look; outstanding factory fog lamps; 6 disk CD player w/ premium 7 speaker sound system (in preferred equipment group); versatile seating/storage area.


16 // www.rapidmag.com


Dwayne Jessup’s 1999 Western Star To find a logging truck in the hills of the Madawaska Valley I didn’t have to go far.


Dwayne’s truck is a 1999 Western Star tandem with a 26-foot pup trailer. Swapping keys for our test drive, Dwayne was happy to here that I do have my truck license. Seven feet up in an air-sprung seat you feel almost invincible; mud puddles that were exciting in the Equinox, the truck just rolls on through. With almost five hundred horsepower, standard practice for anything technical is to pick first or second of the 18 gears and just crawl through. Barreling down gravel roads, inertia was definitely on my side and I hoped for things to get out of my way. It is important to consider the size of put-in parking areas and if there’ll be room to turn around— like 40 acres would be nice.


I was most impressed with the boat loading possibilities. Imagine the convenience of built-in three-inch straps and the ability to carry 270 freestyle kayaks between his uprights. By weight, not volume, Dwayne could legally carry 2666 kayaks. Overall impression? Ideal second vehicle for dedicated shuttle road travel and boat transportation. According to Dwayne, with a shuttle vehicle like his, you could also scratch out a living hauling logs, and in five years, if you’re lucky, have the $240,000 paid off.


Western Star Specs Engine: Caterpillar 14.6 L inline 6 475 horsepower 18-speed Drive: Fuller tranny, Dana driveline, Eaton rearend (this means something to truckers) Wheelbase: 16,764 mm/660 inches Gross Vehicle Weight: 23,000 kg/50,706 lbs Max Towing: 63,000 kg/138,891 lbs Fuel Capacity: 500 L/109 gal Fuel Economy: 9 mi/gal Base price: $240,000 Paddler perks: Easily room for 270 kayaks; 22-foot seal launches from picker; job opportunity when sponsorship runs out.


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